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He came to Liverpool looking for a job - now he's launching his own business

'I know this might not pay off, but I do see a vision'

[Daniel Smyth at his home in South Liverpool]

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Daniel Smyth at his home in South Liverpool

A Liverpool business is preparing to launch after a mans journey with the city began 18 years ago. Daniel Smyth, who lives near Sefton Park, moved to Liverpool after studying performing arts at London Metropolitan University.

The 39-year-old said that meeting Scousers while living in the countrys capital persuaded him to give the city a try after graduating. Little did he know it would lead him to where he is now - at the helm of his own beauty brand, DANIELBEAUTY.CO.

Daniel, originally from Northampton in the Midlands, told the ECHO: "I'd never been to Liverpool, so I thought, 'Let me go and try it out.' Within a week, I'd moved up here, and I've been here ever since."

With no immediate career opportunities in the performing arts, Daniel began looking for work and secured a position as a sales consultant in the duty-free shop at Liverpool Airport. His career took an unexpected turn around six months later when a colleague suggested he move onto the beauty counter.

[Daniel Smyth and his brush range DANIELBEAUTY.CO. ]

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Daniel Smyth and his brush range DANIELBEAUTY.CO.

He said: I had no beauty experience at all, but somehow managed to charm my way through the interview. Thats really where it began. I became fascinated by the beauty industry.

From Liverpool Airport, Daniel moved to Manchester Airport then onto Selfridges in the Trafford Centre. He eventually returned to Liverpool, taking up a management role with beauty brand Bare Minerals.

It was there that he began putting himself forward for additional opportunities, including training events, wedding shows and fashion shows, before moving into training and education.

Now, after years working in the beauty industry for others, Daniel is taking his biggest step yet with the launch of his own make-up brushes on Thursday, August 27.

[Daniel Smyth's everyday six brush range ]

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Daniel Smyth's everyday six brush range

The idea came from years of working directly with customers and noticing a recurring problem: people often bought makeup brushes but didn't know how to use them. That's why, he said, each brush is designed to help users understand its purpose, with tutorials available via a QR code on the packaging.

He added: Im a problem solver by nature, and Id spent so much time with customers over the years that I was seeing a problem that many makeup users were experiencing. For me, this is a brush-led brand. The idea is to guide the user as they use the brushes.

Ive given so many beauty products and makeup brushes to friends and family over the years. Ill speak to them a few weeks later and ask how theyre getting on with them, and theyll say, I dont know what Im doing. Then they give up.

Now, just weeks away from it all coming to fruition, Daniel said it hasn't been without personal sacrifices along the way. Daniel continues to work full-time as UK training manager for Harrods, travelling around its regional beauty stores and training staff across the brands sold by the retailer.

[Daniel Smyth's range launches towards the end of August]

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Daniel Smyth's range launches towards the end of August

Ultimately, he hopes the new venture will allow him to make the leap into working for himself full-time.

He added: Its taken me years to save for this, and there are so many unexpected costs that you dont foresee or really expect to have. Im fully aware of all the risks and I know this might not pay off, but I do see a vision.

"Of course, the dream is that this can become my full-time job. The launch for me represents a remarkable change in direction with everything really.

"I had no idea this is where coming to Liverpool would take me. I never expected to end up launching my own business.

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